Dodgers 14, Diamondbacks 11: Shohei Ohtani’s 3-run bomb completes late comeback in a wild game

Chad Moriyama 05/09/2025 Game Recaps Leave A Comment

Since their winning streak ended five games ago, the Dodgers have alternated wins and losses, and somehow that fortunately continued tonight. They got eight runs in the first three innings from one of their worst-looking offensive alignments and it looked like they’d coast, but then the pen blew a five-run lead and it looked like they were well on their way to a loss. However, a massive six-run rally in the 9th capped by a Shohei Ohtani three-run homer led the Dodgers to an absolutely wild 14-11 win over the Diamondbacks.

Goodness.

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Well, it was a hot day in Arizona and the roof was open, so things were setup for offensive fireworks and boy did they come early … and in the middle … and late.

D-backs starter Eduardo Rodriguez ran into mess right away, as Shohei Ohtani started the game with a double that would’ve been a homer elsewhere, Mookie Betts followed with a single to corner the runners, and with one out Freddie Freeman hit a ball to center that also would’ve been a homer elsewhere but went for just a sac fly to make it 1-0.

Unfortunately, the purposefully-reduced velocity of Roki Sasaki‘s fastball finally caught up to him today. In the 1st, Ketel Marte smoked his second homer in as many days to tie the game up at one, and after a double that could’ve easily been another homer, it was Eugenio Suarez bombing a ball to right for a 3-1 Diamondbacks lead.

All of the damage came on fastballs, notably.

But as I said, it was one of those games, so the Dodgers came right back in the 2nd. Enrique Hernandez led off with his sixth homer of the year, Miguel Rojas followed with a single, and later with two outs it was Ohtani smashing a double to left that drove Rojas in to tie the game at 3-3.

The bats didn’t relent in the 3rd, as Will Smith started with a walk, Freddie Freeman doubled to put a pair in scoring position, and Andy Pages took advantage with a single to drive them both in for a 5-3 lead.

The rally continued when Enrique Hernandez followed with a single of his own, Rojas walked to load the bases, and James Outman put the ball in play with two strikes, resulting in a Josh Naylor error that plated both Pages and Enrique to make it 7-3.

A beautiful bunt single from Chris Taylor reloaded the bases, but the Dodgers got just a sac fly from Mookie Betts to push the lead to 8-3, though they did knock Rodriguez out of the game.

Meanwhile, it seemed like Roki was settling in for a bit, giving up just a single in the 2nd and getting a clean 3rd. However, the 4th started with a double, and a pair of groundouts led to another run scoring to cut the lead to 8-4. No big deal, but the more worrying sign was Roki then hit a batter and issued a walk with two outs before getting out of it.

Thus, despite a low pitch count, when Roki led the 5th off with another walk (one that should’ve been a strikeout, honestly), Dave Roberts came to get him with a quick hook. Just … not good enough: 4 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 61 Pitches. A questionable decision even at the time given the state of the pen.

That brought in Anthony Banda, and there’s a five for runs for Roki because Banda continued to struggle and gave up a single, walked the bases loaded, and then gave up a two-out, no-doubt, game-tying grand slam to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to tie things up at 8-8. Brutal.

Remember that celebration.

For whatever reason, Banda continued in the 6th and found himself in more trouble. He gave up a lead-off single that got to second on a groundout, uncorked a wild pitch to move him to third, issued an intentional walk, issued an unintentional walk to load the bases, and at least got a strikeout for the second out.

That led to Dave summoning Luis Garcia, who basically got out of it by striking out Suarez, but the ump didn’t call it, resulting in a walk that forced a run in and made it 9-8 Diamondbacks.

Twice today as a part of big rallies. Swell.

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— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) May 9, 2025 at 5:51 PM

Garcia stayed in for the 7th, working around a two-out single and wild pitch.

Next up was Alex Vesia in the 8th, who surrendered another Marte homer, then gave up a homer to Randal Grichuk to make it 11-8 D-backs and had it looking like an easy win for them.

Thankfully, it was not so simple for them.

As you may have noticed, the run total for the Dodgers didn’t change since the 3rd inning, which is because they didn’t do much of anything. Clean frames in the 4th and 5th was followed by just a walk in the 6th, another easy inning in the 7th, and a two-out single and stolen base in the 8th that went for nothing.

Things changed immediately in the 9th, as Freddie led off with a single, and then Andy Pages and Enrique laced back-to-back doubles for a pair of runs to get the Dodgers within one. Max Muncy then followed with a single, and all of a sudden it was tied 11-11.

Next up was James Outman, who looked like he homered for the lead but it curled foul, and then he struck out, but after Conforto was hit by a pitch, Ohtani came up with two on.

Well, he did what Ohtani does, dramatically smashing his 12th dong of the year for a three-run shot and a 14-11 lead. All of a sudden, he’s in a tie for the MLB lead.

Away crowd? Home crowd.

The home call was a bit dry as well.

Most importantly, we do a little trolling.

And breathe.

Fortunately, there was no rollercoaster for Tanner Scott and the Dodgers, as he entered and locked things down in the 9th for the win.

What a damn game.

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This still applies, but it’s positive now.

Have to win games like today where they basically luck into eight runs with four free outs in the lineup. And like three relievers and two-and-a-half starters.

— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) May 9, 2025 at 6:32 PM

Gotta find a way to win these ones, because the injuries piling up means the team is playing at virtually half strength. Banking these wins when they can to keep a sense of normalcy until reinforcements arrive is huge.

Always had faith!

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NL WestRecordGB
Dodgers26-13–
Padres24-131
Giants24-152

Tomorrow it’ll be over an hour earlier at 2:10 PM HT/5:10 PM PT/8:10 PM ET with Dustin May on the mound against Corbin Burnes.

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